Potatoes have occupied a place of honor on gardeners’ beds and Russian tables for many years. The plant combines ease of cultivation, good taste and productivity. Every year new varieties appear that are capable of bearing fruit in the most difficult conditions. A new product of German selection was the Rodrigo potato. The agricultural company Solana GmbH & Co managed to obtain a unique variety that has become in demand outside its native land. Russia included it in the State Register in 2009.
General information about the plant
The Rodrigo potato variety is today recommended for cultivation in many regions of Russia.The success of the results is confirmed by reviews from vegetable growers in different regions. Characteristics of the variety and appearance features:
- Medium early, the root crop can be dug up 70–85 days after planting.
- Semi-erect bush with several branches.
- When ripe, the color of the bushes turns yellow.
- Semi-spreading.
- Tall, up to 80 centimeters.
- Not too thick shoots.
- The flowers are medium sized, reddish-violet in color.
- Large green leaves with moderately wavy edges.
- Very high yield, up to 45 tons per hectare of land.
- Up to 10 potatoes on one bush.
- Unpretentiousness.
- Tolerates lack of moisture well.
- Cultivation in poor soils is possible.
- The presence of immunity to many diseases: cancer, late blight of tops and tubers, scab, nematode.
- Good shelf life, even with mechanical damage.
- Transportation over long distances is acceptable.
Rodrigo potatoes have successfully passed yield testing in the northern and southern parts of Russia. The variety is recommended for cultivation on an industrial scale in the Middle Volga region.
Description of the Rodrigo potato root crop:
- Large size, with an average weight of 200 grams and individual roots of 800 grams.
- Oval-elongated shape.
- Dense, thin peel.
- The peel color is dark red.
- Small eyes.
- The eyes are located superficially.
- The flesh is rich yellow or cream in color.
- Average level of starch content, up to 16%.
- Delicate consistency.
- Good taste, slightly sweet.
IMPORTANT! 95% of the harvest is in good presentation.
The variety is distinguished by the possibility of universal use. The root vegetable does not overcook and is suitable for frying, preparing salads, soups, and independent side dishes.
Recommendations for cultivation
The plant is not demanding on the composition of the soil. To get the best harvest, you should choose a well-lit, level area. Wet or sandy areas are not suitable for cultivation. Undesirable planting sites include soil in which the nightshade family was grown and areas near apple trees. The soil should be prepared in advance in the fall:
- Removing remaining vegetation and roots.
- Application of fertilizers containing nitrogen and calcium.
- Digging the soil to a depth of 30 centimeters.
- If the soil is too acidic, dolomite flour or slaked lime is added to the ground; crushed chalk and eggshells are suitable as additives.
IMPORTANT! The use of fresh manure for fertilizer is prohibited.
Two to three weeks before landing seed potatoes should be removed from storage and placed in a well-lit area. You can place the planting material directly on the floor or any large container at a room temperature of at least 15 degrees. Potatoes should grow no more than 5 millimeters. You can start planting only after the ground has warmed up to at least 8 degrees.
It is recommended to plant the plant in rows, at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other. Planting depth 10 centimeters. Caring for the plant consists of weeding and loosening.
Gardeners' opinion
Good day! Positive feedback from neighbors prompted me to plant Rodrigo. The unpretentious variety withstood the hot summer well and the harvest was not damaged. The taste of the root vegetable is delicate, suitable for boiling and frying. It is stored for a long time even with mechanical damage. I didn’t find any cons for myself.
Valentin Ryabukhin, 43 years old
Good day! I want to leave positive feedback to German breeders.This summer I discovered the Rodrigo variety. Potatoes show good yields when grown in poor soil. The undemanding plant is ready for harvest after 70–80 days. The bush is spreading, about 70 centimeters high. I collected 8–10 root crops from one bush. The taste is decent. I recommend it to everyone!
Ekaterina Nedukhova, 43 years old
